self for four weeks and how the wind blew it right into port and
how not even a shoestring was lost overboard. It was really wonderful
and I am thankful you reminded me of it." And then Tom walked off,
leaving Bahama Bill staring after him in dumb amazement. The old tar
realized dimly that for once he had met his match at yarn spinning, and
it was several days before he attempted to tell any more of his
outrageous stories.

CHAPTER XVI

A ROW ON SHIPBOARD

"Do you know, I think we are going on the wildest kind of a goose
chase," said Tom, the next day, to his two brothers.

"Why?" questioned Sam.

"Because we are depending, in large part, on what Bahama Bill has to
tell, and he's the worst yarn spinner I ever ran across."

"It's true that he is a yarn spinner," said Dick, "but behind it all
father says he tells a pretty straight story of how the treasure was
stolen and secreted on Treasure Isle."

"I want to see the island, and the treasure, too, before I'll believe
one-quarter of what that sailor says," replied Tom.

"Well, we'll soon know the truth of the matter," came from Sam. "If
this good weather continues we ought to get to where we are going
inside of ten days. Of course, if we are held up by fogs or storms it
will take longer."

The boys, and the girls, too, for the matter of that, were greatly
interested in the elegant steam yacht, and they took great pleasure in
visiting every part of the vessel from bow to stern. Captain Barforth
did all in his power to make all on board the _Rainbow_ feel at
home and whenever the boys visited the engine room they were met with a
smile from Frank Norton.

But if they had friends on board there were also some persons they did
not like. The first mate, whose name was Asa Carey, was a silent man
who rarely had a pleasant word for anybody. He hated to have young
folks around, and it was a mystery to the Rovers why he should occupy a
position on a pleasure craft.

"He ought to be on a freight steamer," was Dick's comment--"some boat
where he wouldn't meet anybody but those working under him. I can't
understand how the captain can bear him for his first assistant."

"The owner of the steam yacht hired him," answered Mr. Rover. "I
believe the captain does not like him any more than we do. But the mate
does his duty faithfully, so the captain cannot find fault."

Another individual the boys did not like was Bill Bossermann, the
assistant engineer. Bossermann